Did you set a New Year’s Resolution back in January? If yes, how’s it working for you now that we’ve reached March? Studies show that January is the largest month for gym enrollment and attendance and attendance wanes by mid-February. We all do it – start the year off gung-ho and then lag in enthusiasm as the winter drags on. Remember last month when I talked about losing my motivation to exercise? Yes, I, the Health and Wellness coach, am guilty, but I am trying to do better. Recent weeks have shown me, once again, that every day matters and that it is vital to do at least one thing each day to honor yourself – whether that is working on your New Year’s goal, exercising, or something else.
This was brought home to me over the month of February when I found myself working in hospice with a friend of mine. I was notified of the need and flew to the Pacific Northwest to support my friend. The doctor said the time was short, a few days, at best. As I entered the hospital, I was taken by how many people were there with the flu. This hospital was in a mask protocol to try to keep everyone from sharing. My friend was in a private room, so we did not have to wear the mask once inside.
Knowing that death was imminent, we talked about what happens after death. What are the wishes? Where is the will? It turns out, the administrative preparations had not been completed. So, we went to work quickly. We got the most important things written down, signed and notarized. We made a video reiterating my friend’s intentions. That video will become a treasure for me. Not just because I have it to go along with the will, but because I will have the voice, the laughter and the quips of my friend recorded while she was still well enough to express herself. The value of these moments are immeasurable.
There is lots of sitting and waiting in a hospital… and eating from the cafeteria, which was a good one. And I indulged in their Breast Cancer Cookies with their extra pink chunks of sugary goodness. I am a total emotional eater. For me, stress equals bad food choices. I really had to watch myself and make sure I was eating some sort of veggies each day. They had plenty of them; it’s just not my go-to! But I made it work. I also found that while my friend was sleeping, it was a good time to do some wall pushups, squats and calf raises. Mind you, I won’t win any awards for doing hundreds of them, but I consciously did them daily. I did have a hotel room about four blocks away. I went there every other day or so to shower, get outside and rest a bit. I was in the hospital with my friend for 17 days. That’s 34 shift changes, more than 100 healthcare providers, and thousands of questions for them. This morning, my friend graduated to Heaven. We were able to light the candle, play the music, and have the flowers that this special person desired for this particular event. While I am sad that I won’t have those conversations again, I am joyous that we did and that there is no more pain or suffering. I learned so much about myself by sharing that journey. I was reminded that each day is such a gift and how we honor that gift is a determining factor in whether or not we get another one. So, winding back to the New Year’s Resolution that perhaps you’ve just dropped, how would it feel to just do one small thing to honor yourself each day? Could you? Would you? I say yes. Let’s do it.
P.S. – I work with all kinds of people for lots of different reasons, some for health, some for business, some for just deciding if they need a higher level of mental health care. And here’s the deal: I am a straight-shooter kind of coach. I want to get right down to what you want and help you find the way to get there. Coaches are not physicians or magicians, but they should be able to help you decide when you need one or the other – and that’s what I do. If you would like to talk about working with me, please email me at renee@nospeedlimit.coach.